Lao 18

Why?Tony Hu brings upscale Chinese to River North.

Lao 18 isn’t just an ordinary Chinese restaurant. Besides offering amazing Tony Hu dishes such as smoked duck, dry-chili prawns and pan-fried noodles, Lao 18 has a sleek-yet-retro decor that features lamps housed inside golden birdcages and reminds one of partying it up in a swanky Shanghai spot circa 1988. The staff members here are dressed in Chinese garb, and the authentic vibe is furthered by the selection of specialty cocktails made with difficult-to-find Chinese spirits such as baijiu and Maotai.